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    [Mary Kleine''s POV]


    "Stop right there, girl. Don''t cling onto him," I admonished the unexpected arrivals who appeared out of nowhere, asserting their love for Adam and sping his hand.


    "Ababa wha-?????" Adam''s face turned flushed, and he seemed engulfed in a swirling sea of embarrassment.


    Normallyposed and calm, he now exhibited shyness whenever a female expressed romantic interest in him. This unique facet of his personality was precisely why everyone fawned over him.


    I let out a sigh as I gently separated the two while still holding onto Adam''s wrist. My gaze then scanned the entire arena until—


    "—" A sensation akin to being doused in a bucket of ice-cold water coursed through me, rendering me numb.


    "Ruu..." Unconsciously, I whispered a familiar name, my eyes fixated on a distant pair of bright golden orbs devoid of any discernible emotion.


    Tud*


    "What—" Almost reflexively, I brushed away Adam''s hand, a twinge of guilt washing over me. An inexplicable feeling, a peculiar kind of repulsion, directed not towards anyone else but... myself.


    cing a hand on my shoulder, Adam leaned in slightly and inquired, "Your face is pale, Mary. Are you alright?" His voice carried a soothing quality, instantly calming my nerves. Elsa also moved closer by my side.


    Realization struck me like a lightning bolt, and I looked up to find no one there. Was I experiencing a hallucination?


    This strange phenomenon had persisted since the day I identally collided with someone in Bargain Alley, someone who bore a striking resemnce to Ren. But the possibility of him being here, at the Imperial Academy, was utterly imusible.


    "I''m fine," I steadied my breath, reassuring myself more than anyone else.


    "Thank goodness. If you''re not feeling well, we can head back to the dorms," Elsa suggested, but I waved her off, indicating that I was okay.


    "I''ll be right back." I left the spot and gravitated toward the gathering of candidates who had taken the admission test for the academy.


    Thepetition for these candidates seemed rtively subduedpared to the challenges we faced during our first-year admissions. The unusual timing of the admissions, earlier than usual, had been Adam''s suggestion. The reason? Unknown, as he had discussed it exclusively with the principal.


    "Huh?" Reaching the outer gate of the academy, I encountered a sizeable crowd gathered around someone.


    As I approached, a few individuals dispersed upon spotting my uniform, recognizing me as a senior.


    Surprise gripped me to the point where I questioned my own eyesight.


    Aron Adiel Velcrow, the first prince of the Hestia Empire,y sprawled on the ground like a destitute beggar, his mouth agape.


    "Your Highness!" Cecelia rushed to her employer with remarkable swiftness.


    "Who''s responsible for this?" She stood there, her gaze sweeping across the onlookers. It seemed odd that she didn''t immediately assist him to his feet if her concern was genuine, but perhaps touching the prince was something she preferred to avoid.


    "Hey, what''s going on here?" Adam arrived with Elsa and the new girl, Helga, if memory served me right.


    I pointed at the fallen prince, who was now being carried by some of the admission candidates following Cecelia''s orders. Her aversion to touching him was evident.


    "That''s... who did this?" Adam''s brows furrowed in perplexity. I shook my head, sighing, aware that the incident carried weighty implications. Yet, we were treating it lightly, knowing that the first prince had neither the favor of his family nor the people around him.


    And from there, events unfolded rapidly—a cascade of urrences that held significant impact. Professors and royal pce knights arrived on the scene, but despite their efforts, the perpetrator behind the attack on Aron remained elusive. Given Aron''s previous attempts to challenge Adam''s prowess during our first year, it was clear he wasn''t physically weak. Despite his misdeeds, Adam''s forgiving nature continued to prevail due to hispassionate heart.


    And so, the day''s events continued to spiral, each revtion and interaction adding ayer ofplexity to an already tumultuous situation.


    As whispers and spections swirled around the academy, the atmosphere grew tense. The attack on the first prince was nothing short of a breach of security and decorum. The fact that the assant had managed to escape without a trace only deepened the intrigue.


    And I think I was just hallucinating, Ren can''t be here or else I would''ve met him or he would''ve found me and said something like, "I love you Mary," or " Hey Mary,look I am here for you." Along those lines.


    In the day that followed, the academy hummed with a fervent energy as candidates converged around the gates, eager to glimpse the list that would determine their fates – who among them had been selected, and who had been denied.


    The scene was a kaleidoscope of emotions. Joy radiated from those who found their names inscribed upon the coveted list, their faces illuminated with triumphant smiles and excited whispers exchanged with friends. Their dreams had been realized, and they stood on the cusp of a new chapter.


    Yet, amidst the celebration, a different narrative unfolded. A handful of candidates, their shoulders slumped and eyes downcast, mirrored the disappointment of children denied their favorite toys. Tears flowed freely, evoking a sense of vulnerability that starkly contrasted the confident fa?ades they had worn during the trials.


    The range of reactions spoke to the gravity of the academy''s significance. For some, it was validation of their hard work, an affirmation that their efforts had not been in vain. For others, it marked a poignant setback, a testament to the uncertainty of life''s pathways.


    "Looks like the admissions for this year areing to a close," Adam strolled over to where I sat on thewn bench, observing the candidates.


    He settled down beside me and remarked, "Last year, we were in the same position as them." Hisughter carried a lively cadence, a contagious sound that effortlessly brought a smile to my lips.


    "Yeah, we were," I responded, allowing a sigh to escape as I leaned back on the bench. For some reason, I found myself drawn to watching the candidates this year, perhaps because—


    "You were worried that guy might show up, weren''t you?" Adam''s question cut through the air, perceptive as always.


    "..." I averted my gaze past him. It was true; the only reason I hade here today was with the faint hope of spotting him. Yet, just like yesterday, he was nowhere to be seen, which left me with mixed emotions.


    The same guilt that had gued me yesterday resurfaced in my chest. I couldn''tprehend why, but every mention of his name or thought of him seemed to intensify that feeling. It was a strange cocktail of emotions – guilt, relief, sadness – all swirling within me.


    Adam''s voice broke through my thoughts, reassuring and supportive. "Don''t worry, I doubt that guy would show up. Even if he did, you''ve got me."


    His pained expression was palpable, and I found myself curious. "Me?" I inquired, trying to make sense of his words.


    "Uh, I didn''t mean it in any weird way," Adam stumbled over his words, his face reddening. "I meant as a friend. You have me as your friend. Yes, that''s what I meant! Please don''t take it the wrong way."


    His flustered attempt at rification brought a genuine smile to my face. It was both funny and true. I had friends now.


    [You are my good friend, Ruu.]


    The words echoed in my mind, resonating with warmth and familiarity.


    *Thump.*


    Once again, that sensation surged within me as I recalled the words I had once spoken to Ren. The memories tugged at my heart, leaving me a bit baffled.


    "Let''s go, we have ss now. They''re going to teach us about magic swords," Adam announced, rising from the bench and extending a hand towards me.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, I epted his hand. I realized that I might have been overthinking things. Ren wasn''t here; he was probably back in Sephra or off on his adventurous escapades, living out his explorer fantasies. He would wait for me – wait for my response. What would that response be? I couldn''t be certain. But one thing was clear: Ren''s confession weighed heavily on my mind.


    Would I reciprocate his feelings? Did I feel the same way about him? It was a whirlwind of emotions and uncertainty. The thought of Ren loving me – was it true? Was that why he had always been there, why he had sought mypany, why he had been both frustrating and endearing?


    As Adam and I made our way to ss, I couldn''t help but wonder about the depth of Ren''s emotions. If he truly loved me, what did that mean for us? What would it mean for my rtionship with Adam, who had been a steadfast friend and now had revealed a glimpse of something more?


    All the pondering and uncertainties culminated in a single nce a few dayster, during the entrance ceremony. I stood on the tform, my gaze drifting over the sea of students seated below. They were fixated on the student council president, who was delivering a speech praising the Imperial Academy.


    My attention was momentarily drawn away from the speech as I noticed someone on the second-tost row. Arms crossed and emitting an aura that seemed to repel others, he sat with vacant seats surrounding him. His appearance was striking—long ck hair tied in a bun, revealing a face I hadn''t seen in years. Even in Sephra, he had concealed it behind untamed bangs.


    With pale white skin and a pair of golden eyes set in a handsome countenance, he exuded a charm I had almost forgotten. But the rush of emotions that swept over me wasn''t one of nostalgia or admiration; it was fear.


    Fear that he was here, fear of his potential approach, fear of how he had managed to traverse two countries in such a short span. Above all, it was the dread of his familiar behavior, the same behavior that had unsettled me during our time in Sephra.


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    [A/N: Why was this chapter important? Because it''s Mary''s true thoughts!!]


    [A/N: Discord Server Link: https://discord.gg/ZcArgw67KP ]